Penelope Pickles (Penny) and Melissa

Rosie

Mei-Mei and Mosaic

Koda

Oliver

Little Foot

Gizmo, painted twice

Lily

Henry

Tumbleweed

Tumbleweed came to live with Shaun and I in June of 2009. He was approximately a year old and his first human couldn't keep him anymore. He was our first hedgehog and we just loved him from the start. Over the following three years, he brought us so much joy and hilarity. He was particularly fond of Grandmommy's (Shaun's mother) holiday cooking and I know he looked forward to his special meals of turkey and sweet potatoes.Tumbleweed began giving kisses out of the blue when he was around 3 years old. He would come up to your face and kiss kiss kiss. It was adorable.Tumbleweed turned four in June of 2012 and was in good health and very cuddly. He was diagnosed with a squamous cell cancer on his chin in August of 2012 and while treatment was possible, he just didn't seem to be bothered by it, so we scheduled surgery to remove the tumor on October 4, 2012. Earlier that week, Tumbleweed lost his appetite and seemed lethargic. On October 5, he wasn't breathing well and I took him to the vet, who said it was time. I called Shaun and little TW waited for his Papa to come, gave him kisses and then slipped away. We miss him all the time.This portrait was commissioned by our dear friend Autumn Ouellette. It is so beautiful, capturing his mischievous and loving spirit, and we will treasure it always.

PricklePot

Sir Felix Gaylord Whumplebunch

Sir Felix Gaylord Whumplebunch got his start at US Global Exotics animal “mill” in Texas, a little over three years ago. When the terrible place was raided by the Federal government and various agencies, Felix was one of over 600 hedgehogs of all ages, and in all stages of life and near death.

After several weeks of rehabilitation at the hands of volunteer veterinarians and other experienced caregivers, Felix’ fate was left in the capable hands of the Hedgehog Welfare Society. He was one of about 50 hedgehogs that comprised a “hedgie train” to the Mid-Atlantic States, piloted by Sheila Dempsey and Charity Tutt. Those two courageous women drove through some of the worst weather the US had seen in years, as they dropped off hedgehogs with their new adoptive families along the way.

Three of these hedgehogs were destined to live with my two daughters and me. Because I live so far off the necessary path of the “train,” Sheila took my three pogs home with her, along with several others intended for other homes. She did a rendezvous with Sonja, a chinchilla and sugar-glider breeder, who accepted several of these little ones, including my prospective adoptees.

Sonja was wonderful; because I had first agreed to adopt three of these Texas Tumbleweeds (later simply called “T’weeds), she allowed me to have first choice. My daughters were happy to have any two of the little girls available, but since my heart was still sore over the loss of my first beloved hedgie, Shming, I hoped my new little fellow would be a good fit.

Sonja was kindness itself; emailing me photos of the three males she had in her care. One photo jumped out at me; I couldn’t take my eyes off the mischievous little man! It was love at first sight, and I quickly asked Sonja to please, please set this little boy aside for me!

Then I fretted and fretted, because another family was coming to see the hedgies, to choose a male for themselves. Not knowing Sonja, I was frightened to tears that she might forget her promise, should a friend want this special little guy.

I fretted for nothing, because Sonja was as good as her word! She and I found a window in the incredibly snowy weather we were having, and met in Charlottesville,Va, nearly four hours from my home. In the parking lot of a restaurant, we received our new babies; Sonja had to PRESENT me with my boy with her own loving hands, because she realized how excited I was over him!

We quickly transferred the three youngsters to warm carry bags. My daughter drove all the way back home, just so I could peek in at my new little love frequently. He came out at one point, curious as could be, and tried to convey something to me. When I kept attempting to keep him in the warm bag, he finally nipped me, then stared straight in my eyes. Turns out he needed to go potty, and didn’t wish to soil his new sleeping quarters! I felt so bad that I missed the cue (the only time he has EVER bitten is when needing out to go potty, and I’ve missed his frantic cues.) It took approximately a year for Felix to decide to accept affection from me. Because he seemed to equate being held with being restrained, I began placing him in a pen, and interacting with him there, so he could initiate contact with me. He and I began playing tag, wherein I would touch his backside, and he would run excitedly around the pen. One evening as I was bending over the pen with my elbows on the bottom, he tried to sneak up behind my arm. My daughters were watching, and instructed me to keep perfectly still. Felix slowly eased up behind me, tugged gently on the edge of my sleeve with his teeth, stepped back, and ran off like he was thrilled! HE had tagged ME!!! We bragged and bragged on him, and he repeated the performance evening after evening, until he finally tired of the game. Then one evening we noticed that Felix was having difficulty with his kibble. Realizing that he had a loose tooth (that he later lost), I held him to my cheek, making soft consoling sounds to him. He and I whimpered back and forth for a few minutes, and our relationship was never the same. He seemed to know and accept that mommy understood and sympathized, and since then he has been the most affectionate little hedgehog imaginable.

Felix is now so trusting that we can trim his nails without struggle; he adores taking his bath in the shower with me; and he allows his teeth to be brushed, hopefully to counter the effects of the gingivitis he picked up at US Global Exotics.

Oh, his name: when Sonja sent me that initial photo, I posted it on Facebook, as excited as any soon-to-be adopted mommy. I had compiled a whole list of prospective male hedgehog names from which to choose, but a friend of mine remarked, “He looks like a Felix to me.” The name was perfect, and by the time he and I met, he was already officially named Sir Felix Gaylord Whumplebunch!

Q-Ball

After rescuing lab mice for many years, I was looking for something a little different when I saw his adorable little face on petfinder and he stole my heart. He wrapped it up in a big bow when I first held him in my hands. His posted name was Quentin, which is husband's name, and they also had the same birthday. It was fate. Hubby knew that it was useless to protest and the quilly little Quentin came home. He quickly got one of many nicknames of hubby's, Q-ball just seemed to naturally fit a quill ball!

Q-ball was the perfect first hedgie! He was a healthy, friendly baby from a pregnant rescue. He was an energetic boy with an enthusiasm for exploring, sniffing everything new with gusto. He LOVED exploring outside and playing "Jungle Explorer" in the tall buffalo grass. After he got tired, he loved to snuggle on my lap.

Having Q-ball in my life really changed things for me, leading me to the world of hedgie people and many new friends. He opened my heart to other hedgehogs that needed rescued, even if they were not sweethearts like him. He opened many new doors for me and improved my life just by being his sweet self.

The photo of him in the grass is one of my favorites and how I like to remember him. His face is a close up from another photo and PJ was able to combine both images, capturing the sparkle in his eyes in the painting.

To my beloved Q-ball, thank-you for changing my life. You introduced me to a whole new world and I am better for knowing you.

Our Boys

Bucky -He was our first 'bino and took some getting used to, but we grew to love albinos. He was very mellow and quite the ladies' man.Dudley- He was our first hedgehog and very mellow. He hardly ever raised a quill and was comfortable with everyone. Loved having his tummy rubbed when he was inside.Hoover - He was our little athlete. He was a hedgehog Olympics champion and still holds the record for males in the hurdles.Gromit - Another Permanent Grand Champion. He's our Texas Tumbleweed. He never puts his quills up or rolls up, but is always on the go, go, go (post-traumatic stress) when he's out of his cage.

Kenny (Kenmore) - One of our Permanent Grand Champions. Our little fraidy-cat. He's very mellow, but very easily spooked. Another ladies' man.Payton (who I got to know through my racing affiliations) he was built a lot like him...a little tank that could go anywhere he wanted to.Baxter - He was my crabby boy. He had a rough childhood. He was one of our sweetest hedgehogs but had a very tough outer shell...would hiss, put his quills up and pop for no apparent reason.Wizard - Another aggressive biter. He was Bucky's son, but nothing like his father. He would actually run across the room to bite me if he saw any skin available. He was Daddy's boy and liked to have a bit of beer with Jim.

Kissy Rat and Herisson

Herisson is my first hedgehog but he is from a pet store. Regardless of where he is from, it’s my love for him that brought me to rescue.

Kissy Rat is also from a pet store. He is the best rat I have ever had. A beautiful soul.

(The quote is from Winnie the Pooh)"If there ever comes a day when we can't be together, keep me in your heart, I'll stay there forever"

Erica

I had PJ paint my deceased hedgehog Erica, and she did such a wonderful job, it's almost like having her back again.

Mac

To come

Jellybean

The painting on the left was sent to the UK & auctioned. Proceeds were split between Exotic Rescue & Wild Hedgehog Rescue.The painting on the right was auctioned off to benefit the Hedgehog Welfare Society.

Shming

Shming was born at my house, the runt of the one unexpected litter of a pair of hedgies bought from our local pet shop. I was at that time afraid of my grown daughter's new pets, but found them lovely and intriguing. All my reticence dissolved the first time I held Shming; his eyes had opened, and he was smaller than a chestnut burr in the palm of my hand. The little lad slowly uncurled, those wondering brown eyes looked into mine, and I fell in love.Shming taught me about his delightful species, choosing my shoulder as his favorite spot, sharing food with me, licking my hair until it was gooey, then annointing with the scent. After a stubborn UTI was healed, Shming began gaining weight from his necessary prescription diet food, so swimming was also prescribed as therapy for my chubby boy. During the course of one such playtime, he began attempting to barrel roll; I ended up gently turning him onto his back and he floated atop the shallow water in the bathtub. Until his passing at a five years and one month, that remained his favorite sport, always under my constant gaze.

Pharaoh & Paco

Pharaoh is my little old man, I spotted him in a pet shop about 3 months after I got my first hedgehog, he was totally different than an APH and so I kept going back. Everytime I returned he was still there until one day I asked about him. I was told he was an Egyptian Hedgehog which I now know is untrue and he had been in the shop for 18 months. I felt so sorry for him that I went back the next day and quizzed them some more I had tried researching Egyptian hedgehogs but had found hardly any information. I couldn't leave him in the shop any longer and the shop couldnt wait to be rid of him so cut the price in half. I got him home and realised what an agressive ball of anger he was. Even so he does have a very cute and lovely side to him ... so long as you dont get too close. We have had him for 4 or 5 years now and he is going grey around his face but he is still full of personality and hasnt slowed down at all. We recently introduced him to my friends female desert hedgehog Nora and they got on brilliantly and he chilled out a lot they followed each other round and were great together.Paco or Paco King Kenny to give him his full title is my new little boy. I have had him home about 2 months now and he is a little huff ball but he is going through quilling so I can hardly blame him. My friend, a breeder from up north posted pictures of one of her litters they were all quite dark apart from one i just fell in love with his gingerness so had to have him. I was so excited to finally bring him home when he was 7 weeks old. He has turned into a little fatty as he has grown but still has that adorable little face.

Tinkerbell, Tugboat & Tex Rider

Peggy

Lancik (Lancelot)

Lancik (Lancelot) lost his battle with WHS. The color of the background was the color of the shirt his loving caretaker often wore while caring for him. The inscription is from To Kill a Mockingbird and was given to Lancik's owner by Atticus' owner (see below), who succumbed to the same disease. "I wanted you to see what real courage is. It's when you know you're licked before you beginbut you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what.You rarely win, but sometimes you do."-Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

Lancik (Lancelot)

Little did we know what we were in when a fragile, childlike hedgie named Lancelot entered our lives. Affectionately nicknamed Lancik, he came to us after he started showing signs of WHS. At first shy and huffy, he gradually turned out to be the gentlest, bravest hedgie we have ever known. He is always bright-eyed and loving, even though his motility has drastically declined since we got him. Lancik delights in yummy gut-loaded crickets, mealies, and a little bit of fresh corn. Every day, every minute, it is impossible to not feel fiercely overwhelming love for this courageous little boy.

Klaus

Klaus was a funny little hedgehog. I got him after my boyfriend had built a new viv for my other hedgehog Holly, it was massive so I put a shelf in the middle and it became a viv stack. Since I had space I decided I needed another hedgehog. A friend of mine was looking for homes for a few males that he had from old litters, Klaus was 6 months old when i brought him home and he had such a funny personality. When you picked him up he would huff and puff but never try to hurt you. After a while he began to come around to being handled and if I sat on the floor by his house he would come running out and stare at me through the door in case i had a tasty treat for him. Sadly at just 1 year old he got ill and we rushed him to the vet, he had a massive tumour in his stomach and died that night. I still miss him terribly but I'm glad PJ has done such a beautiful painting for me to put up and remember him by!

Poptart

Poptart was born on July 13th, 2009. We purchased her from another USDA licensed breeder to use in our breeding program (Northern Plains Hedgehogs). When we went to pick her up as a newly weaned hoglet, we immediately fell in love with everything about her, from her outstanding temperament to her unique color. After bringing her home, she became a beloved pet and part of our family. She loved to be taken out in the evening and waited by her cage for you to come and get her. She also loved to snuggle and her favorite thing to do was to fall asleep on your shoulder, in a big, fluffy robe, while you relaxed in the evening watching t.v. Poptart would sometimes sleep for an hour or more like this. It was her favorite thing to do next to having her meal-worms that is. Poptart passed away on March 12th, 2010. She died from internal bleeding and complications giving birth to her first litter. We regret ever breeding her and wish we could turn back time so we could have her back in our lives. She has been missed every day since and will be missed every day to come. Poptart was a very special girl, who will always have a very special place in our hearts. Rest in piece my precious, precious girl.

Ashes

Ashes was one of Hedgehog Grove's breeding females but unfortunately she had developed some problems with her eyes, which lead to been completely blind. She was taken her out of their breeding program to ensure it wasn't passed on to any offspring. As it stands Hedgehog Grove along with their vets are still unsure what caused the problems that resulted in her losing one eye and becoming blind in the other. The vets all are seeming to agree that it is something genetic but without invasive tests, which may end her life, they can never be sure.

Ashes is as active and snuggly/loving as she ever was , she gets around ten times better than any sighted hedgehog they have seen and you would never know she was blind.

She often falls a sleep out in the open.

Her photo was used for a painting that is being donated to the HWS.

Atticus

Atticus was not in my plans - but I am fairly certain I was in his. I was helping with the hedgie train, transporting several Texas Tumbleweeds several hundred miles (& acquiring 2 along the way!). I was also on my way to visit a breeder who was both giving a home to some of the Tweeds and had 2 rehomes that I would be taking back with me. While staying there, I saw this beautiful light gray & cream grumbly ball & inquired about it. He had been returned. I was shocked. He was gorgeous. He had been a birthday present for a 16 y.o. girl. And while the family did their homework, this little guy just had a horrible attitude. So he came back. I finally picked him up one day, fully expecting a nasty ball of quills. Instead, after the appropriate amount of posturing, he unfurled his body, snurfled around, made happy noises, & promptly clamored up into my hair. Both the breeder & I were shocked. I played with him each day I was there. I even helped try to find him a home when potential hedgie parents arrived but he was a total sourpuss. We agreed he had made his decision as to whom his parent should be & when I set out for home, I had another hedgie in my brood.

Atticus was just 2 months old when he chose me. We drove across the country together, along with his 5 new brothers. He was very happy to reach "dry land!" He continued to be completely inhospitable to anyone but me as he got older & more handsome. At about 6 months, I noticed his left hind was off...a little hitch when he walked. I took him to the vet & she did a full exam. With no other signs & no joint or muscle injuries, we had no clue this was the start of something debilitating. The odd gait became more & more pronounced. He then lost some use of his left front paw. By Christmas 2010, he scrambled more than walked & was very wobbly. Days passed & the disease progressed. It became very aggressive in the last few weeks. I tried everything you are supposed to do - the physical therapy & massage & all sorts of treatments. He wanted none of it. Those that were not obviously too uncomfortable to him seemed to engender a look of "are you crazy, lady?" & a dramatic escape attempt ensued. While it took his mobility & independence, it never took his personality. He was bright-eyed & interested in what was going on. He still huffled at anything disturbing his cage. He smiled when he got syringes of his favorite foods & would grab the syringe tip & lap fervently. He was stubborn, cranky, loyal, voracious, & a momma's boy to his very last breath.

I asked PJ to paint Atticus for me not just to remember him - I will always remember him...but in collaborating, in sharing, in his image becoming meaningful to another person & made art...that preserves so much more than a quick snapshot. There is such great care, love, & thought in each painting. It is an honor to the subject.

Hazel

I got Hazel for my 50th birthday from my kids. It was a total surprise. They were so excited to give her to me. I had mentioned a while before that that I would like a hedgehog totally not expecting to get one. I wasn't prepared at all but they got her house and all the initial things that she needed. I then did my research and got her everything else she needed. I really do love her but she is quite a grumpy one. She was very sweet when we first got her but after her quillings she became quite the grump.

Cholla (our little boy)

After months of research, we decided that we would like to see a hedgehog in real life. We wanted to see if Bill (husband) was allergic to them, or if he would be able to breath. I was pretty sure that it would be alright & had already started to purchase supplies. A cage, a travel carrier, made some fleece liners & cuddle bags, etc. We traveled 5 hours to see some friends in Dallas. While we were there, we thought we would stop in a local breeder's place & just check them out. Little Cholla (pronounced Choya - it's a kind of cactus) was handed to me. It was love at first hold. I never set him down. Thank goodness I brought that travel carrier "just in case"! :) Cholla loves to run about 6-9 miles every night & will purrrr when he gets his favorite treats of meal worms & wax worms. But once he's in our laps, he settles down for a cuddle & a nap.

In this picture, Bill is holding Cholla. I just loved how he was looking up at him, with such a cute expression on his face. Safe, trusting, innocent.

Spike

Spike came from a very lovely lady who could no longer care for him, he is a very sweet boy and was very much loved by his previous owner. Spike settled in nicely with everyone at Hedgehog Grove when he arrived in Decemeber 2010. He is 3 and a half and has such a cute stubby upturned nose and cute little hedgehog crinkles.

He enjoys his baths where he often falls asleep with his head resting in Yarazenka's spare hand while been scrubbed with the other.

Designed by Yarazenka of Hedgehog Grove

Designed by Yarazenka of Hedgehog Grove

Pumpkin

Little Pumpkin was the only surviving hoglet from a litter of Ashes at Hedgehog Grove. Unfortunately Ashes abandoned her and after many attempts to get her to feed her it all failed. Pumpkin was then hand raised and was doing excellent until the 6th day when she passed away quietly while comforted by her caregiver. Hedgehog Grove commissioned PJ to do some memorial paintings of little Pumpkin. May she forever rest in peace.

The girls - Col. Mustard & Pete

Every day when I look at the painting of my hedgehogs on the wall, I smile. I smile not only because the painting itself is beautiful, but also for what it means to me.

Col. Mustard entered our lives very unexpectedly. She was a child's pet, and unfortunately -- or as I like to think, fortunately -- the child didn't find her too amusing after a few months. My sister, who knew the child's mom, ended up adopting the Colonel but couldn't keep her, so we took her in when she was turning 1 year old. Mustard is our baby, our doll. Lovable and cuddly, a hedgehog who would make lots of hedgie-parents jealous of. Mustard is so trustful and affectionate, she truly enjoys being petted and loved. If she were a person, she would be a kind, good-hearted one.

And then, we have Pete. Pete's former owner was moving to Hawaii, so she needed a new home. Being the softie I am, I couldn't stand the fact that a hedgie less than 2 hours away from me was in need of a human to use its sharp quills at, so we adopted the little pig. At that time, we didn't have a lot of information about Pete's background. A few weeks after she had settled in our home, I started wondering why Pete was so shy and huffy, and why did she have such a hard time trusting us. I then did some research, exchanged some emails and found out Pete had been through 3 other houses prior to us. My 2.5 years old ball of quills had been an unwanted orphan for all her life.

Pete went from living in a small box out at a porch (that's how her first owner kept her,) to being what most will consider a very spoiled hedgehog. Still, she huffs at every single word I say, every move I make. My response to her fits is simple: "I understand, Pete, and I love you."

That's why I smile when I look at my hedgehog painting. It reminds me of how is it possible to love the two most different hedgehogs one can possibly imagine. It is there to remind me that somehow I changed these hedgehogs lives; and they changed mine. Thank you, PJM!

Charley

Charley came home with us from a pet store in Kaiserslautern Germany with his wheel and a gallon bucket of some sort of mystery food that he ate until I discovered the Hedgehog Central Forums and got him on some Royal Canin cat food from another pet store closer to home.

Charley came out right away when we brought him home, running on his wheel and looking at us as though we were interrupting him. It must have been that night that he realized he wasn't in the pet store anymore, but in a new cage in a new home. For about two weeks after that he was impersonating a sea urchin with an attitude that had plenty to say with his hissing and clicking about what he thought of us disturbing him like that. ^_^

He lived with us for almost a year with nothing really eventful happening. I added a few more brands of cat food to his diet, got him a cake pan wheel to replace his wheel from the pet shop, and cuddled him mercilessly, taking many pictures along the way. His real adventure came when we found out we were moving back to the United States, and were really only given 30 days notice.

Packed snug in his small cat carrier with a SnuggleSafe disc and his hedgie stocking from Nikki's Hedgie Bedding, he boarded a plane in Frankfurt Germany, and 10 hours later was safe in my arms again as we left Atlanta Georgia. He's now settled happily into a temporary cage as we await the arrival of our household goods on their way from Germany.

Charley is a big boy, a bit of a fluffer. He weighed in at his heaviest at a whopping 680 grams. However, after suffering a bout of mites in February of 2011 he lost a little bit of weight (and about 300 quills) and now weighs in at about 615 grams. I think this lower weight looks good on him, he's very active, has never been one to be lazy, and loves his wheeling.

He's a bit of a grumpus, but I know he loves me. How? Because I'm the one he wants to cuddle with; if I put him down on my king size bed on the opposite side from me, he will run straight to me and try to climb into my arms. I'm also the only one he likes to nibble on ^_^

I'm also the one who cleans his stuff and gives him yummy treats like mealworms, boiled chicken, and fruit/veggie baby food, so I hope he at least likes me a little, ya know?

In short, Charley is my baby. I'm a grown woman, married with a child of my own, and I've lost my heart to a hedgehog.

Phineas & Naomi

Phineas & Naomi were born on Oct. 30, 2010. Their mom did fine with them for about a week then she started killing babies, but I was able to save Phineas & Naomi. It was a very stressful few weeks of bottle feeding, but they did great. They each had some health issues but they're both doing great now. Phineas is a big fat monster that loves to cuddle but would rather explore the entire house. He annoints on everything! Naomi is still a love bug and would rather be in my hands than anywhere else on the planet. every time I try to put her back in her cage she clings to my hand.

My main reason for wanting the painting was because of Naomi's tenuous start. I wanted something special to remember her by in case she didn't make it, neither the vet nor I was sure she would live very long. (Naomi was very, very small compared to Phineas & has a handicapped leg.) Of course I had to include Phineas in the picture because the two of them were so close.

Zoey (our little girl)

Zoey was originally purchased by a young man from a pet store in Dallas. She was in a bin with about 15 other hedgies. After taking wonderful care of her for over a year, he went to study abroad in Paris. His parents had cared for her for several months, but he wouldn't be returning for a long time. As he cared a great deal for her, all he wanted was to find her a loving home. We each drove a few hours & met half-way. At first Zoey was very huffy & didn't like to be touched. But being consistent, patient and gentle, she has become more comfortable with us and has blossomed. She loves to run up on Bill's shoulder & sit, making noises in his ear. When I walk into the hedgie-room, she will run up the tunnel-ramp to get to me and loves to be picked up and cuddled every night. She is our cuddle bug & our clown. Always making the best faces, she keeps us laughing.

The first picture was the inspiration for my first hedgie painting. It's the one that started everything. Cholla made me love hedgehogs. Zoey made me love to paint them.

Our girl, Zoey.

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